Manufacture of chairs.



H. B. MORRIS. NIANUFACTURE 0F CHMRlc APPLICATION msn Aums. l

Patented July 23, 1918.

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H. B. MORRIS.

MANUFACTURE 0F CHAIRS.

APPLICATION man Aus.15.19|c.

1 ,273,52 1 Patented July 23, 1918.

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MANurAcTuRE oF CHAIRS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.|5, 191. 1 ,27 3 ,521 Patented July 23, 1918.

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H. B. MORRIS.

MANUFACTURE 0F CHAIRS.

APPLICATION FILED AuG.I5. 191e.

Patented July 23, 1918.

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glwucfl I To@ /z MOP/Q55 'am m HAROLD B. MORRIS, OI? GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA.

MANUFACTURE OF CHAIRS,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 23, 1918.

Application filed August 15, 1916. Serial No. 114,989.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, I'lARoLD B. Mouais, a citizen of the United States, residing at Glendale, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Manufacture of Chairs, of which the following` is a specitication.

This invention relates to the manufacture of chairs, and particularly to chairs made by covering a skeleton frame with ratan, rush, paper and other such fibrous materials. Ordinarily chairs of this kind are made by first constructing a skeleton frame complete and then winding covering material on some parts of the frame while other parts are covered by weavingthe material thereon. This operation is slow and expensive.

According to my present invention different parts of the chair frame are covered, bent into shape, quickly assembled, and secured in place in a novel way to produce a complete chair which is strong, firm and most durable.

In my application for patent No. 36,036, tiled June 24, 1915, I have described a method of covering frame pieces before they are bent, and I- have also described and claimed one lway in which a complete chair may be made by covering some parts of the frame and assembling the parts, and I have also described a way of applying a previously formed machine-woven fabric to the back frame of the chair. In my application, No. 107,446, tiled July 3, 1016, I have described and claimed a method of first covering` a frame piece of the chair while the frame piece is warm and soft and then bending it to shape, and in my application No. 110,217, tiled July 19, 1916, I have described and claimed a method of covering a frame piece with a sleeve of covering material while the frame piece is soft and warm and then bending the covered frame piece to produce the desired shape.

In carrying out my present invention I provide a blank from which to form the inarginal framefor the back, seat and front legs of the chair, and I ln'eferably tirst apply a covering to that part of the frame which will form the top'of the back. This is prefe ably done by steaming or otherwise heating and softening the Wood and thon slipping a sleevey of covering material thereon.

After the fralne piece .is covered in the manner above described, it is bent while still warm to form a U-shape pcrliminary blank for the marginal frame of the back, seat and front legs of the chair. Before the covering is applied, as above described, the frame may be reinforced at the points of bending by metal plates which serve to Iprevent the wood from splitting or cracking (hiring the bending operation and afterward. The covering material also serves a similar purpose. After the blank is bent to U-shape, it is steamed or otherwise heated and softened and is then bent at different points laterally to give shape to the frame preparatory to the further bending operation. Where the vframe is made of a plurality of strips of wood hot glue is applied between the strips which are then dried and then, after heilig again steamed, may be bent laterally to proper shape. Metal plates may be applied where subsequent bendings are to be made and where the frame is constructed of a plurality of strips not only is hot glue applied between them but the strips may be nailed together at suitable intervals. When in this condition the frame may be steamed and held in clamps which contract it, and then hot glue is applied to the frame while the frame is still soft, and aV previously made piece of fabric having tubular marginal pieces is slipped onto the frame and positioned in such manner as to form a covering for the back and seat. Then this is done, and while the frame is still soft, the latter is bent suitably to locate the back at the proper anglo to the seat and the front legs are located in a similar Wav.

The seat is then reinforced by suitable braces, the upper and lower ends of the fabric are attached to cross pieces of the frame and also to cross pieces at the front and rear of the seat portion of the chair. A stretcher is applied between the front legs and then the hind legs are secured in place. The hind legs are braced by a suitable stretcher. and if necessary braces are employed to connect the upper portions of the hind legs to the back frame above the plane ot" the scat. The stretchers and hind legs are covered before they are .ip] )lied,`suitable means being` employed for securely fastening these parts to the main frame of the chair. The front legs are covered with glue and then sleeves of covering material are gli applied thereto.. In this Way the Separate parts may be very quickly made and covered and the covered units may be easily shaped, assembled and attached.l

, In the accompanying drawings :f

` Figure 1 is a perspective viewbf one form of chair made in accordance with my in vention', a portion ofthe seat being broken away in order to show the seat braces.

Fig. 2 illustrates a strip of Wood which may beV employed to. forni the main frame off the chairvand; which is reinforced at the peinte of bending .Fis 3. AShows a planet ak frame hiee fel' the back, seat and front legs made np, of a plurality et strips of wood. nailed teaether.

Fis-V e. Shows a eeeton 01.1, er1 enlei'ged Scale on the line, f Fig.. 3-

Fig. 5. is a perspective View ef a frame Piece, Showing hcw it be eererecl ley a sleeve et covering materiel..

. Fig 6y is a View et e frame piece, with a Covering Sleefe Pleeed. thereon. l Fig. 7 shows the marginal frame piece, with thefeeverng sleeve thereon, leent inte l! .fe-rm. Y Y

-Figs 8 illustrates the next Step in .the Operation Where the marginal. frame peee ie given fnrelirninary shapingfor the bach, Seat and trent lese.

Fig-, 9 is a view similar tn Fig. S, but

shows howthe different Strips of Wood, of

which'the marginal 4frame is composed, are

'A nailed together md how they are remforced at peinte; Where the HeXt bending operation occurs. c

Y Fig, l() is an edge, view of the frame shown in Fig. 9.,

Fig. ll is', a detail view, showing how the main 'frame may be made of Single piece 0f Weed and how the blank Heey be made thinnerv at certain par-ts.

Fis! l2 iS a detail View, Showing llew'the, inain frame may be made in two parts joined together, how the corners at the top, of the back may covered, and how the top. cross pieceof the back may be coveredwith Va part of the fabric which covers the back frame Fig. l illustrates how the frame, constructed in the manner indicated 1n Fig. 9',

' maybe bent andclamped prelinllvlnily to receiving VtheV fabric which covers the back i and seat of the frame.

lst is a plan View of a piece of fabric which 1s employed to coverrtheV seat and Y back.

' material shawn in rig. 1e.

Fig. 18. e' .fleteil View en en' ealersecl Fig'. l5is a view on an enlarged scale Vand inV .section of the covering shown n1 scale and in section illustrating how the upper and lower ends of the covering material are connected Awith cross pieces of the frame. Y

Fig. 19 is a det-ail View7 showing 110W the covering materialmay be constructed to cover the back.

s Fig. 23 shows a cross section, on the line v of Fig` 22.

Fig. 24 shows one of the frame pieces ein- Ple-yed in forming e beek. les. i Fs- 25. is e. viewe'f a medied torni et the frame iece for forming a back leg.

Fig'. 2,6 i lustratesy how a frame piece for a baci; leg,` after being covered, is bent to Shape. Y Y Fig. 2 7 shows how two Lsuch frame pieces,

after being bent to snitable shape rfor they,

bagel; legs, areV connect-ed by a stretcher or brace Fig. 28, illustrates how the different parts of the frame may be conyeniently nested and packed for shipping. y

Chairs of various shapes and kinds may be made in accordance with my invention. Fig. l shows a chair nf simple construetion lwhich by way of yexample ser-ves to indicate my improvements. A indicates theV seat, B the back, C the front legs and D the. beek legst Thetrent lege are braced by a stretCher c and the bach legs are braced a sti'etcherd. A indicates braces for the seat frame which are applied in the manner hereinafter described.'

ri`he inain frame. ofthe chair is made of suitably seasoned Wood and constitutes the marginal freni-e the k 'and 'seat eetl ico also provides the front legs for the chair..

The franie may be made of :if single piece of wood or of aplil of pieces, l/Vhen 'a single piece is empleyedv.A as' indicated at E in Fig'. 2. it should be reinforced as indicated at c by thin metal platesyset in' recesses in the wood and seein-ed therein as,

shown. These plates, are. located at points Where the strip is to bc bent and serve to prevent the wood from splitting' or craclo ing and to reinforce or strengthen the wood at these points. Then a plurality of strips l are used, as'shown at E in Fig. 3, they are Y glned together. reinforced byinetal plates c', as shown, and secnredjby nails or' other such devices between the' plates, as indicated Vat c2, for the purpose ofleeping the Wood from Vcreeping Vduring' the bending"V operar strip is bent.

tion. In this way the outer portions of the strips are leftI free to slide on each other during the bending process.

That portion of the frame piece which will form the upper portion of the back is first heated and softened, as by steam, then has hot glue applied thereto and is then covered with a suitable material before the rIhis is preferably done by forming a sleeve F of [ibrous material and slipping it onto the heated and softened frame piece, in the manner indicated in Figs. 5 and (3. This method of covering and bending a frame piece is more fully described and claimed in my application for patent No. 110,217 filedJuly 19,1916, above referred to. Instead ot employing a sleeve the frame piece may be wrapped with covering material.

Fig. 6 shows a frame piece with thc covering material F applied and in this condition the frame piece is ready to be bent. This bending operation to form the U-shape blank of the kind shown in Fig. 7 should occur im mediately after the sleeve is slipped onto the frame piece and while the wood is still soft.

Fig. 7 shows the shape of the frame after the first bending operation, and it will be observed that the covering F extends entirely across the top of the frame and also around the corners thereof. In this way those portions of the frame Where the bends occur are reinforced .not only by the metal plates, (which are concealed in Fig. 7) but also by the covering sleeve and splitting or cracking of the wood is avoided.

By employing a plurality of strips should one'of them break the others will usually hold fast and the shape of the frame as a whole is preserved.

In order to give proper shape. to the blank shown in Fig. 7, to outline the back, seat and front legs before'the final bending operation, it is first bent to assume the condition shown in Fig. S, lateral bends being produced at the points e, e, and. at this time also the outer ends of the blank may be trimmed or squared off, as indicated at e". Before bending at the points just indicated the blank E', shown in Fig. 7 is steamed or otherwise heated or softened, care being taken however to heat and soften only the lower portion of the blank, that portion containing the covering F not being heated. Where the blank is made of a, plurality of strips hot glue should be applied between the strips and the strips should be further secured by means of nails or similar devices e9. At the points c", c5 metal plates e7, es are applied, these plat-es being preferably of thin sheet metal sunk into recesses formed in the blank at the points indicated. -These plates are used for the purpose of preventing the wood from cracking or splitting when the blank is next bent.

IVhen the frame is in the condition shown in Fig. t), that is, after it is bent to the shape there shown and is nailed and has the plates applied, it is next steamed or otherwise heated and softened and is placed in clamps M, shown in Fig. 13. These clamps serve to bend the sides of the frame toward each other, as indicated, the bends occurring at the top of the back portion of the frame, which portion has not been steamed` or softened preliminary to being placed in the clamps and is therefore somewhat springy so that the sides of the frame are held under tension.

While in the condition shown in Fig. 15 the lower portion of the frame may be again steamed or softened if necessary and hot glue is applied to that portion of the f 'ame below the covered top portion.

The next step in the process is to apply the covering for the back and seat. Such a covering is illustrated in Figs. 111 and 15. It consists of a fabric I which may be made of rush, paper or other suitable material in suitable machinery. It is woven on a loom, and. it is formed at its longitudinal edges with tubes/ of suitable size to receive the main frame of the chair. These tubes constitute the edge warps of the fabric. land as the process of weaving the fabric forms no part of the invention herein claimed, further description of such method of weaving is here omitted. I would say, however, that the fabric may be produced in a continuous sheet or strip and cut into suitable lengths, each length being suitable to cover the back and seat portions of the chair frame. At its upper end t-he blank is helnmed at i and receives a rod which stiffens it. The lower end of the fabric is in like manner hemmed, as indicated at li", and receives a rod which stitfens it. The fabric blank is applied to the frame while the latter is held in the clamps M. The side portions of the frame below the covered top thereof is steamed and hot glue is applied and while in this condition the fabric I is connected with the frame by inserting the lower ends of the frame into the tubes of the fabric and then pullingthe fabric onto the frame until it assumes the position shown in Fig. 16. fhile the wood is still soft the covered frame is taken from the clamps and bent to the shape shownin Fig. Q1 and after the frame is set the upper edge of the fabric is secured to a cross piece I which is secured to the main frame of the chair in any suitable way. Preferably the fabric is bent over thecross piece I. in the manner indicated in Fig. 18. and the hemmed, reinforced edge is inserted in a grove in the underside of the cross piece and held therein by securing devices '/t. The lower edge ot' the :fabric is in like lnanner attachedto a cross piece I2 of the frame. Cross pieces "In Order. SQ' Strengthen the Seat I.Y emply brees A." which" are" Ui Shape; have, @110.11% a :entering SQeketsfin. theframe eh'd are' secured tightly place4 bolts a.. 'lflie .20

V ajselioiyn 'in EigpQ, tozalloW tlie Seat tobend- When being used? When the braces are' cjrmed sleeves" of' coyering material, Such @Whose indicatedih igfZlf- The; ffhh legs 'my be., strengthened." by' e 'hreee 0.1i Stringer c which. is" Cerere@` bent to shape' before itis s'eciied to tlxrelegs at 0 and tothe Seat framefat vc2.

bragas. may he appl-ie?? i11- Mir Suitable. Wey- Pieferhhly the hehehe are irret in filed in the Sockets., 'thee the" inher Portihfj the. braces are] broughttogether and the bolt-S alieattehed These br-eeelhaih@ Iliade of bent WoodV and they are 'afcheddOW1iWardly,

iehed ih@ the hilaher @hre ihdeeteld they Serve t0' Stretch the h'ler'elhhl frame, and.

hold. it ih. Such. confditonl' t0 Properly, sup-' underA tension.'

The bind lege` arey formedl from pieces or tripfl? VWhich; erefcovexed.; @is ihdihatd at@ El Each Strip ay' berehforedfby a metal plate, aSnd-iated @M35 @if by. a metally sleeve d4, as Shown in Fig.' 25. ATheplatte el? Sfpre-ferahly 'applied in, fefess. in, the strip,

andthe sleeyefclf 'first split arid then applied iii.' an aniilar groeve "or recess.` in thestrlp. is understood, 0i coilree, tha@ the entire, strip is Srrjoiiidedby coveringk material', OiilyI ay portion of the covering material ieshoyyli` iiiigls. 241 sAfter being c oyered', the Strip' is b'cntto the shape indicatedv Q'to form a llirid 16g. arid also any' eXteilsioii Z5 which pro-jects linder tlkiwseat allld isattachedto tliefraine thereof at the poiiite Z9L arid 7, Eig. l.

A p reyou'slypcoyered brace or stretcher (l @was @111e hinfilgs. as incuaednfhie' 1. This Stretcher isattacliefd iri anysu'itable Way to'i thel liilid" legsk arid' .toz the Seat frame. I preferably ei'i'iploy "strengthening pieces:V

G Whiclf may co'liect theliifnd, with4 tlie baal;z frame' jiiSt above ,tl'liez p'lalie of the seat',

Y eration.

p l, (e ric Slidably engaged y tl; 'the sides: oif e Dileeeoff "e material' H,'as indicated' in Fig. lgfbend.'

dicated at g, the strips being rty covered the corriere as illu'stra'ted at f. :The coyr! ing l for the back `may ber formed withi an extension J Whicli'liiay be turned; (Werftli'ez fop iiee to. @over itA eine. to als@ assist ih holding the backbover iii place.V Insteady of forriiiig the Strips H separately may. lirsft forni 'a' ll-ejhape' blank, the/ Ii separate., this blank iigtc two parte;Y apply thejcoverihg material f, and then join the parte ath.

A s shown'iii Fig. 19, theback coyerirflg I is fornied lWith theeXte'riSiolrJ referred to, and thie ligure of the draWiiigS Shoys' how 'the tubes' i' :may be splijt" aridr eliteiidle'd` at I7' to facilitate in drawing thef'iabrifc oiito the. frame- TihS- i@ als@ @dichte/Cl ih Fig. 14.!

iniprovemets thefp'rdc'ess' of Iakiing- 'a Chair' is; ngt only Simplified but the, different parte of the frairie are coyer'ed mcresecurely than by usual proceeeee. Soniel parte of the 'frame may be covered byWldr ing machines arid Ymay then` be beiit to proper Shape Witheut danger. 0f. breakhgf? Sp-hik' ting While`A other parte; Ipayf be'coyer d'by prcvioliely forrried sleevesk or;y tubes;l 'of 'veri ijnglnaterial which may be qliiclly The fabric coyeririgvfor thfebaclandfseat may he machine-.iliade"wl may' h-everyf qehly slipped onto, the. main "flhihehi the' @heir 'andi attached therefof by 'glue pli vioiisly applied. 'Ibis res'rilts'` in a Say, in time and exlpenseiae 'ordi'riarilyv'a?v great deal time 'corfslinied iii coyeringf the hihihi frame by! the' head1-Waving. 'Orr 'Tliecovered frame parte oliA several chairs made 11 aecordance 'with my inyeiiti'ori be` easily Shpped'for trap'eportatic readily assembled forjulse. A'

Referring to'FigfilQl may nee. the cori- Structihh there Shown., when'. the fahf@ iev- @pag.1 has" Sharp bende; The mi' frame pieces may be inserted., separately iii the Ytilibular margiiivsA (if the fabric ao'dthcn ath. The Sleeves maybe'a'pplied'iii airy suitable Way. i 'W 'Ihed'fereiit parte of thechair. 1.11216. Y very: quickly aSeefmbled fo'use'." Tli'eVc'oy-'f ered iicaij'grial; blalikiii` tlilefform shown' viii` F ig. 21,v the 'covered/legs (,lig-Q'haridftlie two braces YGr, are the nlyfsepeate. parte] of the' Chair. and' ih. esSemblihg these, "erts" the. legs hte Secured. at.' d?, 57 't' 'the marginal frame and the ybraees'V Gr are Isecrefd 'tol the b'acl'eofltlie legsfarild to the back frame jllet Y1:2Q

abo'ye` tlieplaiie ofthel Seat arid the c liairieAV theligreadyfor rise.A Y' l? Y "I cla-ibi aeK my inyentori :y Y lj In cliaii',tli`e 'ceiiclnationl or` a reeilif; entfU-Sllaped.blank hay bel'ldsu'ior, ing. back, seat and front le 1 ortiche; 'arid a. f

Ih'. e. @hails the eeelbhhhah ef 12,@-

Shaped blank having bends forming' bai-k, Seat and front leg' portions. the, Sides ol laaid blank being also laterally delleeted lo deline the outlines of the back, seat and lege, and a correspondingly shaped fabric slidably engaged with the sides of said blank and held tant by the resilience oi said blank.

3. In a chair, the combination ot' a U- shaped blank having bends forming' back, Seat and front leg' portione, the sides ol. Said blank being also laterally deflected to dene the outlinesl of the back, Seat and lege. and a correspondingly shaped fabric Slidably engaged with the Sides of Said blank.

4. In a chair, the combination of a resilient U-shaped blank having' bends forming the back and seat portions, and a fabric slidably engaged with the Sides of said blank and held tant by the resilience of said blank.

5. ln a chair, the combination of a U- shaped blank having bends :forming the back and seat portions, the sides of said blank being also laterally deflected to define the outlines ot' the back and Seat, and a correapondingly shaped fabric Slidably engaged with the sides ol said blank.

In testimony \\'hereo;l:, have hereunto subscribed my naine.

HAROLD B. MORRIS. lVitnesSes z W. P. FRANCY, CALVIN lVIu'rING.

Copies of this patent may be 'obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner oi' Patents, Washington, I). C. 

